For 24 consecutive years, the boys’ indoor track team has continued to dominate the Bay State Conference, emerging undefeated at the end of every season. This winter proved to be no exception, as North overpowered their competition to make for 25 straight years of perfection.

  “The team has always been really close and has always had a lot of depth––and fast people,” said junior Tyler Tubman, a captain with seniors Hunter Ho, Adler Schultz, and junior Jack Mantell. “Every year it’s kind of passed down.”

This season, the team has faced several COVID-19 restrictions, including mask requirements for all athletes and coaches, and limited spectators for home meets. However, math teacher Shawn Wallace, the head coach, said that the protocols failed to slow the team’s production down.

“I think this year was tougher to tell you the truth, because of a lot of the hurdles that we need to jump over, just with COVID and the protocols, and the fact that the kids had to keep their masks on for a while,” he said.

Wallace added that he appreciates the team’s drive to be the best despite challenges. “They worked harder than in years past thanks to all the restrictions, and I think they did such a phenomenal job.”

Despite coming out undefeated, the Tigers achieved much more than a flawless record this season. Junior Max Klein set a school shot-put record of 64 feet and 7 inches, which broke his previous record of 61 feet, and many athletes set new personal records for their events. The team also finished second at the state relays, scoring 66 points.

Max Klein said that every athlete on the team has the same hunger to succeed within them. “The team worked very hard,” said Klein, “I don’t know where that motivation comes from, but everyone has it and everyone wants to succeed, and it allows us to put our heads down and work.”

Wallace said that he has noticed an increase in competition in recent years and that they must be ready to face harder challenges. “The league gets tougher and tougher, and I keep telling the kids they have a target on their back, and that they just keep on wanting to beat us.”

However, Wallace added that the team has no plans in stopping their dominance. “Because we get everybody’s best efforts, we can’t have an off meet,” he said. “They do an awesome job with trying to make sure the streak stays alive, and keep working hard everyday.”

North placed first in the Bay State Conference championship Wed. Feb. 9, almost doubling the amount of points that the second place team earned. They will compete in the Division 1 State Championship Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Reggie Lewis Center.